CHAPTER THREE - THE DISAPPEARANCE OF PERSONS : SOME STATISTICAL INFORMATION

This Commission has received complaints in respect of 8739
disappearances of person since January 1, 1988, from the Western,
Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces1.
Table 1 gives the district - wise breakdown of the number of
persons alleged to have disappeared.

Table 1

Province/District

Number of Persons
Disappeared

%

Western Province

Colombo District

866

9.90

Gampaha District

1027

11.75

Kalutara District

884

10.12

Southern Province

Galle District

622

7.12

Matara District

2371

27.13

Hambantota District

1556

17.81

Sabaragamuwa Province

Kegalle District

528

6.04

Ratnapura District

885

10.13

Total

8739

100.00

The statistics in Table 1 are graphically illustrated in
Figure 1 given below:

The statistical information reveals that the overwhelming
majority of disappeared persons were male (8543),. This number
accounts for 97.76% of the total number of disappearances.

Table 2 shows that 3230 (about 37%) of the
disappeared persons were married. Even though the number of
females disappeared is relatively very few (196), a large number
of women were adversely affected as a result of the
disappearances of their husbands. Besides, a large number of them
also have children of school-going age. Of this number (3230),
the Commission, has inquired into 2928 cases. During the sittings
of the Commission, we had an opportunity to assess the economic
difficulties of the affected families, and found that 2475
families are in need of some kind of financial assistance to
support the education of their school children. This clearly
shows the low-income level of the affected families (for a
detailed discussion on the impact of disappearances of women and
children left behind, see Chapter Thirteen). The statistics in
table 4 show that 24 victims were children below 9 years. They
were actually killed in various incidents such as reprisal
killings of families, cross-fire, and bomb attacks (See Chapter
Two, on the issue of whether killings fell within the Terms of
the Mandate). There are 44 victims within the age group 10-14.
Most of them were also killed in incidents similar to what was
described earlier. However, there were also several cases of
abductions within this group. For instance, a 10 year old boy was
abducted by security forces as a hostage in a bid to find his
father who was suspected of subversive activities. His father was
subsequently captured and killed but the boy never returned home.
The statistical data have revealed that the disappeared persons
were predominantly the youth. About 63 percent of the disappeared
persons belong to the age group between 15 to 29. The most
vulnerable group was between ages 20 to 24 (about 28%).

Table 5 indicates, a very high literacy rate among the
disappeared persons. Of them, 2243 (25.66%) had primary education
and 5476 (62,67%) had secondary education. There were 129
undergraduates and 86 graduates. The statistical information on
the occupations of the disappeared persons suggests that the
spectrum of their economic activities was very diverse. The most
affected categories among them were cultivators, labourers,
traders, and skilled workers. The overwhelming majority of the
victims belong to low-income level groups. It is well Known that
the cultivators in Sri Lankan rural sector are small holders, and
a considerable percentage of them are tenant cultivators.
Likewise, petty-traders constituted the vast majority of traders.
In a rural setting, even the skilled workers are not financially
well remunerated. The numbers given as "unemployed" do
not reveal the true position in respect of this category. The
reason being that a considerable percentage of persons recorded
as employed are in reality persons who are under-employed or
seasonally employed. Besides, occupational status is mot
mentioned in respect of 315 persons. Therefore, one can safely
assume that the actual number of employed persons is probably
higher than the figures given in the category
"unemployed".

It should be noted that some of the well-known cases belonging
to the elite of the society had not been reported to this
Commission, and as a result, they are not reflected in our
statistics. Since such cases are very few, they would not have
significantly changed the overall picture in terms of
percentages.

What is given so far is a profile of the disappeared persons.
We now proceed to indicate certain patterns of abductions during
the period under review. A statistical breakdown of involuntary
removals classified according to date of the incident is
given in Table 7 and 8 (and also in Figure 2). Table 9 (and
Figure 3) contain a statistical breakdown of involuntary removals
classified according to the time of day of the incident
(by 4 hourly periods).

Table 7 Involuntary
Removals Classified According to The Date of the Incident
(1988-1996)

Year

Jan.
- Mar.

Apr.
- June

Jul.
- Sep.

Oct.
- Dec.

Total

%

1988

88

66

112

496

762

8.72

1989

454

314

2150

2824

5742

65.71

1990

990

309

411

189

1899

21.73

1991

90

19

36

16

161

1.84

1992

8

8

7

8

31

0.35

1993

3

13

16

8

40

0.46

1994

9

7

10

7

33

0.38

1995

4

4

0

0

8

0.09

1996

2

6

0

0

8

0.09

Total

1648

746

2742

3548

8739

100.00

Note : This is in respect of disappeared persons
only.

Figure 2INVOLUNTARY
REMOVALS (1988-1996)ON A
MONTHLY BASIS

Table
8 Involuntary
Removals During 1988-1990 On a Monthly Basis

Month

1988

1989

1990

Total

January

35

155

552

742

February

25

171

283

479

March

28

128

155

311

April

15

107

102

224

May

28

88

98

214

June

23

119

109

251

July

26

318

171

515

August

42

857

157

1056

September

44

975

83

1102

October

70

926

90

1086

November

149

819

63

1031

December

277

1079

36

1392

Total

762

5742

1899

8403

NOTE: This is in respect of disappeared persons
only

As the Mandate of the Commission covers the Period
beginning from January 1, 1988, figures relating to the period
following on the Peace Accord of July 1987 are not reflected
here. It is generally held that the "reign of terror"
in Southern Sri Lanka began since mid-1987, particularly after
the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord in July 1987.

It is evident from statistical data in table 7 (and also from
Figure 2) that the worst period of disappearances took place
during the second half of 1989 and the first quarter of 1990. Of
the number of cases reported, 5964 (68.21%) disappearances took
place during this period. As a year, 1989 represents the worst
period; however, there was a marked difference between the first
half and the second half of 1989. The number of disappearances
during the first half of 1989 was 768 (8.78%) whereas it was 4974
(56.89%) during the second half of 1989. There were 990 (11.32)
disappearances in the first quarter of 19990 alone.

Table 8 gives a more detailed breakdown (on monthly basis) of
the disappearances. Accordingly, the period between August 1989
and January 1990 represents the worst period of disappearances.
5208 persons who had allegedly been abducted during this period
have disappeared. This number accounts for nearly 60% of the
total number of disappearances.

As indicated in Table 10, we have already inquired into 7761
cases. This number accounts for 88.81% of the total number of
disappearances reported to this commission.
Another436cases(4,99%) were listed for inquiry but they could not
be indicted as the complainants did not respond to summons, 542
cases (6,20%) remain to be inquired into.

Table 9Involuntary
Removals(1988-1990)Classified
according to the Time of day of the Incident(by Four Hourly
Periods)

Hour of the Day

1988

%

1989

%

1990

%

Total

%

00 - 04

62

8.1365

513

8.93

156

8.21

731

8.70

05 - 08

82

10.761

727

12.66

257

13.53

1066

12.69

09 - 12

101

13.255

1106

19.26

399

21.01

1606

19.11

13 - 16

76

9.9738

735

12.80

214

11.27

1025

12.20

17 - 20

156

20.472

896

15.60

304

16.01

1356

16.14

21 - 24

133

17.454

973

16.95

294

15.48

1400

16.66

Time unknown

152

19.942

792

13.79

275

14.48

1219

14.51

Total

762

100.00

5472

100.00

1899

100.00

8403

100.00

Note: This is in respect of disappeared persons only.

Figure 3INVOLUNTARY
REMOVALS (1988-1990)ACCORDING TO THE
TIME OF DAY OF THE INCIDENT(BY 4 HOURLY
PERIODS)

(The statistics given in Table 9 are graphically
illustrated in the above figure)

The breakdown of abductions by time period of the day,
as given in Table 9, (and also Figure 3) reveals a very
significant feature of this period - the climate of impunity.
Quite contrary to the popular belief that most of the abductions
took place during night time ("midnight knock on the
door"), abductions took place throughout the day. The
perpetrators acted with a sense of impunity without being
inhabited by spacio-temporal factors. People were abducted not
only from their homes but also openly from public places.

We have so far given statistical data on all the
reported cases of disappearances (8739) since January 1, 1988.
However, we were required to inquire into and report on certain
matters under the terms of the Warrant. Therefore, our
observations and findings contained in the main body of this
report are based only on cases inquired by us during the period
of our tenure.

As indicated in Table 10, we have already inquired into
7761 cases. This number accounts for 88.81% of the total number
of disappearances reported to this Commission. Another 436 cases
(4.99%) were listed for inquiry but they could not be completed
as the complainants did not respond to summons. 542 cases (6.20%)
remain to be inquired into.